Reading 3-1 ECFC
Scorers: Regan
Attendance: 12202

CITY OUTCLASSED AT READING: BACKS TOO SLOW.

HEAVY RAIN AND NEWBURY RACES LOWER THE ATTENDANCE.

Saturday, October 25th 1952.

READING
(Blackman, Bainbridge penalty, Simpson)
EXETER CITY
(Regan)

Half-time Reading 1 Exeter City 0.

Reading: McBride; Moyse, Wicks; McLean, Brice, Johnston; Simpson, Brooks, Blackman, Parker, Bainbridge.

City: Kelly; Walton, Rowe; Harvey, Goddard, Davey; Mackay, Knight, Dailey, Murphy, Regan. Referee:- Mr W.J.Edwards of Yeovil.

The only goal of the first half was scored by Blackman for Reading with a header from Simpson's centre. Up to this point the City had been active and were as good as their hosts, but following the goal little was seen of their attack apart from one shot by Regan which McBride saved.

The Exeter backs were too slow against a pair of lively wingers in Simpson and Bainbridge, and the wing halves failed to clear the bal to any purpose, with the result that Exeter were penned in their ow half, and Kelly alone prevented an addition to the score.

The referee after consulting a line sman awarded Reading a penalty, from which Bainbridge scored, thirteen minutes after the restart. When Walton floored Bainbridge a few minutes later another penalty was given, but this time Kelly made a brilliant save from the home outside-left.

Exeter rallied, and sixteen minutes from the end Regan reduced the leeway, but just when it looked that Exeter might save one point Simpson met a crossfield pass and shot neatly into the net from a few yards' range. Attendance 12,202.

Southern League 

CITY RESERVES 2 GUILDFORD 2.

At St James's Park the City Reserves made early raids and Howells scored after eleven minutes. They went further ahead ten minutes after the interval when McClelland beat Searle with a penalty kick awarded for a foul on himself. Guildford rallied in the last fiftee minutes, when goals by Bradley and Barney earned them a division of the points.

City Reserves 
Singleton; Anderson, Clark; Booth, Doyle, Armes; Mitchell, Bolt, Howells, Fallon, McClelland.